Cuomo said the bridge would be closed until investigators can verify that it did not suffer any structural damage in the accident.

"Until that structural inspection is done, we are not comfortable — I am not comfortable — reopening the bridge," he said. "It's a very old bridge that has been pieced together for a very long time. It should have been replaced decades ago."

[Update at 5:45 p.m: Northbound lanes on the bridge have been reopened for traffic, but the southbound lanes remain closed.]

The crane that collapsed was a new crane, working on a routine task, Cuomo said.

Terry Towle, the president of Tappan Zee Constructors, said they will be looking into whether the collapse was due to the crane, the vibratory hammer it was holding up or operating error.

"Sometimes equipment breaks and sometimes accidents just happen," Cuomo said. "We'll know more after the investigation."

The AP has more on the crash:

"The base and treads of the large, movable crane sat on the unfinished new bridge, which crosses the river between Westchester and Rockland counties. Officials didn't immediately give the length of the collapsed crane, but part of the broken arm lay across the entire 90-foot, seven-lane width of the old bridge, which runs parallel to the new one. Another section lay across a construction platform in the water between the two spans.

"After the crash, several boats carrying emergency workers maneuvered in the river around the collapsed crane arm, while other workers appeared to be scanning the water around the wreck."

The wire service notes that people who were unharmed by the crash were left stranded on the bridge, trapped by the resulting traffic snarl.

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